Mail-catcher.



S. M. WILSON.

MAIL CATCHER.

APPLiCATION FILED JAN. 13.1916.

Patented June 4, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

ATTOFI N E\ SAMUEL M. w ILson, OF EAST DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

MAIL-CATCHER.

Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed January 13 1916. Serial No. 71,935.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,. SAMUEL M. WILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Durham, in the county of Durham and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMail-Catchers, of which the following is a specification. j I

My invention relates to new andnseful improvements in a mail catcher.

The primary object of the invention is i the provision of a device ofthis character which is simple and inexpensive in construction and whichmay be adjusted to receive mail from trains traveling in eitherdirection. v

A further object of the inventionvis the provision of means for holdingthe catcher in adjusted position. v A still further object of theinvention is the provision of means for. catching the bag from the trainand depositing it in a receptacle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for holdingthe mail bag grabber open until struck by the bag at which time it isreleased and guides the bag into the receiving receptacle.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the noveldetails of construction and arrangementof parts Which will bemoreclearly understood from the following description and drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a front View of withthe several parts in position ready tocatch the bag,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the parts in position for catching thebag,

Fig. 3 is a fragmental top view, partly in section, showing thereceiving receptacle andmeans for adjusting the same,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the arms for grabbing the bag,and r Fig. 5 is a fragmental vertical section, showing the means forholding the mail bag catcher in adjusted position.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a post which may besecured inthe ground or attached to the cross ties along the track. A flange 2 isformed on the top of the post 1 and said flang 2 is provided with a rib3 formed on the top thereof, the purpose of which will be presentlydescribed.

Circumferentially spaced pockets or recesses 4c are formed in the topface of the the catcher flange 2, as aremore clearly shown in Fig. 5ofthe drawings and the purpose of which will be presently described. Arod 5 is socured in the post 1 and extends from the top thereof andreceives a sleeve 6 which is rotatable thereon and provided on the lowerend with a flange .7 provided on the under face with a groove adapted toreceive the rib 3 on the flange. Circumferentially spaced openings 8 arformed in the flange 7 and areadapted to register with the sockets orrecesses 4: formed in the upper face of the flange 7. A pin or peg 9 issecured to the post 1 by means of a suitable chain or rope 10, and suchpin or peg 9 is adapted to pass through the openings 8 and be receivedin thesockets or recesses 4. Then in the position illustrated in Fig. 5of the drawings, thepin or peg 9 will prevent rotation of the sleeve 6.v

A receptacle is adapted to be rotatably connected to the post 1 and thisreceptacle comprises the bottom slats 11, the vertical slats 12, and thebands 13, connecting the vertical slats 12. A plurality of verticallyspaced arms 14 are secured to the receptacle, as is more clearly shownin Fig. 3 of the drawing and said arms are provided with openings 15,the purpose of which will be presently described' Plates 16 havingopenings therein are adapted to be secured to the arms 14 by means ofthe bolts 17 and nuts 18. The arms 14 and plates 16 are adapted to bereceived in vertically spaced grooves formed in the post 1 whereby thereceptacle is supported upon the post and may be ro tated thereon.Recesses 19 are adapted to be formed in the post 1 and to register withthe openings '15 formed in the arms 14- and the openings formed in theplates 16. A pin or peg 20 connected to the plate 16 by means of a ropeor chain 21 :is adapted to pass through the openings in the arms orplate and be received in sockets or recesses 19 formed in the post 1. Bythis means the receptacle is held in adjusted position against rotation.

Arms 22 comprising a plurality of slats are adapted to be hinged to thesleeve 6 at 23, and the hinged ends of the arms are of the peculiarshape shown at 24, whereby they will fit around the sleeve when inclosed position. Coil-springs 25 are connected to the sleeve 6 and tothe arms 22, said coilspring 25 being crossed, as is more clearly shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings, whereby they will normally tend to hold thearms in closed position. Arcuate shaped rods 26 are adapted to besecured to one of the arms 22 and pass through eyes 27 secured to the opposite arm. These arcuate rods 26 foiin guides for the arms whenclosing. Sectional bars are adapted to be connected to each of the arms22 and comprise the sections 28 hinged to the arms at 29 and the sections 30 hinged to the sections 28 and 31'. In order to hold the arms 22in spaced relation, the ends of the sections 30 are brought intoengagement, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thesesectional bars are hinged in such a manner thatthey will spring inwardlywhen struck by the mail bag whereby the arms will be released.

aving' fully described. the details of construction it is thought thatthe operation and many advantages of my device will be clearlyunderstood. It will be seen that 11 have provided a mail catcher whichcan be secured along the side of the track and which can be adjusted toreceive the mail bags from t *ains traveling in either direc-- tion.When in position for receiving the bag, the parts are in the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the receptacle being beneath thearms 22. The sec tional bars are in the position shown in Fig.

2 of the drawings, the ends of the sections 30 contacting therebyholding, the arms 22 in open position against the tension of the spring25. When the mail bag, which is hung from the car door, strikes thesectional bars, the ends of the sections 30 are disengaged and thesprings 25 will then draw the arms 22 together whereby they willencircle the bag and direct it into the receptacle. The arcuate shapedrods 26- passing. through the eyes 27 will guide the arms while closing. When it is desired to reverse the parts for catching the bags froma train traveling in an opposite direction, it is only necessary toremove the pin 9, whereby the sleeve 6 may be rotated upon' the post.The pin 20 secured to the plate 16 can then be removed and thereceptacle can be swung upon the post. When in the desired adjustedposition the pins 20 and 7 are again placed in their positions and theparts are held against rotation.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mail catcher, comprising a support, a pair of sleeves rotatablymounted on said support and placed one above the other,- said lowersleeve having pockets formed in the top thereof, said upper sleevehaving a flange formed on its lower end and provi ed with openingsregistering with said pockets, a pin adapted to be passed through saidopenings for engagement with said pockets, a receptaclecarried by saidlower sleeve and mail engaging means connected to said upper sleeve andpositioned above said receptacle.

2. A mail catcher comprising a support, a sleeve rotatably 'n'iountedonsaid support and hi ing pockets formed in the top thereof, a rib formedon the top of said sleeve, ayreceptacle secured to the sleeve, a secondsleeve having: a: flange on its lower end, said flange provided with agrooveto receive said rib and equipped with a plurality of openingsregistering with said pockets, a pin adapted to be passed through saidopenings for engagen'ient with aid pockets, and mail engaging meansconnected to said sleeve and positioi-ied-above said receptacle.

3. A mail catcher comprising a supporting post a rotatable'sleei' esurrounding the lower part of said post, a receptacle secured to saidsleeve, a second sleeve surrounding the upper part of post and rotatablysupported on said first sleeve, mail engaging means eom-rected to saidsecond sleeve and adapted to be positioned above said receptacle, andmeans for locking. said sleeves together so as to cause the same torevolve in unison about said support.

4. A mail catcher comprising a support having vertically spaced groovesand sockets formed adjacent the grooves, a receptacle, arms secured tothe receptacle encircling the support in the grooves, said arms providedwith openings adapted to register with the sockets, a pin adapted to bereceived in the openings and sockets, a" flangeformed on the top of thesuppott and having sockets therein, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon thesupport, a flange formed on the sleeve and provided with openings, a pinadapted to pass through the openii'agfsin the flange and be received inthe sockets in the flange on the support, arms hingedly connected to thesleeve, springs connected to the sleeve and arms; eyes secured to one ofthe arms, and rods securedto the oppo' sitearm and adapted to passthrough the eyes.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL M. l'VILS-ON. lvitnes'ses E. LLoro' TILLEY, S Bownnve.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

WashingtomD. G. i

